This includes an end to relaxed preventative
maintenance inspection (PMI) intervals from 1 September
2020.
The traffic commissioners had agreed a risk-based
approach during the COVID-19 pandemic where operators
unable to access maintenance facilities could extend
the usual maintenance intervals for their vehicles. As
restrictions begin to lift, the commissioners have
taken the decision to end this policy.
The update
states that operators can stick to the extended
maintenance schedules for their vehicles until the
first inspection after 1 September. After that
inspection, they must revert to the interval specified
on their operator’s licence.
The other major updates concern local bus services.
Most important of these is extending the temporary
local bus service processes until 4 January 2021 to
allow operators opportunity to consider any permanent
changes that may be required.
Another change is an increase in the notice period for
service variations for Local Authorities from 24 hours
to 72 hours in England and Scotland. This change took
effect in Scotland on 29 June 2020 and will take effect
from 3 August 2020 in England. There is no equivalent
notice period in Wales for Local Authorities.
Other updates include guidance about:
- amending a registered local bus service to become a
school or works bus service
- the use of additional vehicles on services
Read Coronavirus
(COVID-19): Advice for Heavy Goods (HGV) and Public
Service Vehicle (PSV) Operators
